News Broadcasting
Republic Network appoints Kishan Cheranda as EVP – Head Distribution & International Business
New Delhi: Republic Media Network on Monday appointed Kishan Cheranda to take charge of the distribution and International Business for the Network.
Cheranda’s previous role was with Turner International (Warner Media) as head of Distribution. In a career spanning over 26 years, he has assimilated a deep understanding and on-the-ground experience of Networks in both digital & broadcast distribution, and monetisation space, said the company. He has worked with leading broadcasters – Warner Media, Ten Sports, Zee, Viacom & MEN.
Vikas Khanchandani, Group CEO at Republic Network said “We are delighted to have Kishan join the Republic team as we scale up our operations both in India and globally. The market is growing and simultaneously changing at a very rapid pace. I am confident that Kishan with his vast experience and capabilities will be able to build and grow the network both on broadcast as well as across online platforms. We wish him all the very best.”
Kishan Cheranda, executive vice president – India Distribution & International Business said, “I am extremely delighted to be part of a successful & a genre leader such as Republic. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be part of an organisation driven by strong leadership & innovative thinking. I am hopeful of adding value to propel its growth and scale newer heights together.”
With the fast-changing landscape for content distribution, Republic Network too has been working to make its content easily accessible and available across all consumers in India as well as to the diaspora across the world. The organisation has been building capabilities and technology for the distribution of content online across Video OTT platforms, Telco Content Apps, and Device manufacturers along with new OS players across smart Television.
News Broadcasting
Network18 Q4 revenue grows 9.7 per cent, EBITDA at Rs 30 crore
PAT improves to Rs 306.6 crore, margins steady amid cost pressures.
MUMBAI: Not all news is breaking, some of it is quietly improving. Network18 Media & Investments Limited appears to be doing just that, tightening losses and stabilising margins even as costs continue to weigh on the business. For FY26, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,955.1 crore, up from Rs 1,896.2 crore in FY25, signalling modest top-line growth in a challenging media environment. Total income stood at Rs 1,978.2 crore, compared to Rs 1,913 crore a year earlier.
Profit after tax came in at Rs 306.6 crore for the year, a sharp turnaround from Rs 3,225.4 crore in FY25, largely reflecting the absence of large exceptional items that had inflated the previous year’s numbers. On a more comparable basis, the company’s operating performance showed signs of gradual stabilisation.
However, the quarterly picture remained under pressure. For the March quarter, Network18 reported a loss of Rs 53.1 crore, narrower than the Rs 98.1 crore loss in the same period last year, but still indicative of ongoing cost challenges.
Expenses continued to track high. Total expenses for FY26 stood at Rs 2,235.7 crore, up from Rs 2,197.8 crore in FY25. Key cost heads included operational expenses of Rs 765.9 crore, employee benefits of Rs 475.9 crore, and marketing, distribution and promotional spends of Rs 427.1 crore, underlining the continued investment required to sustain reach and engagement.
At an operating level, margins remained under strain. Operating margin stood at 2.33 per cent for FY26, marginally higher than 1.77 per cent in FY25, while net profit margin remained negative at -13.02 per cent, though improved from -14.89 per cent.
On the balance sheet, total assets rose to Rs 8,957.6 crore as of 31 March 2026, from Rs 8,317.5 crore a year earlier. Equity strengthened to Rs 4,958.7 crore, while borrowings increased to Rs 3,112.8 crore, reflecting a higher reliance on debt to support operations.
Cash flows told a mixed story. While financing activities generated Rs 83.9 crore, operating cash flow remained negative at Rs -24 crore, highlighting ongoing pressure on core cash generation. Cash and cash equivalents, however, improved to Rs 33.9 crore from Rs 1.8 crore.
The numbers point to a company in transition growing revenues, trimming losses, but still grappling with structural cost pressures. In a sector where scale often comes at a price, Network18 seems to be inching towards balance, one quarter at a time.
